The Administrative Court initially rejected Malmö City's claim for repayment of the amount the Malmö resident had received in benefits. However, the next instance, the Court of Appeal, saw things differently.
The man claimed that his pictures from a glamorous party life in the sun were only posted as a joke, and the Administrative Court considered that vacation pictures on social media do not hold as evidence. The Court of Appeal, on the other hand, rejects the man's explanation and takes note that he did not provide any explanation and did not submit evidence to support the claim.
The key question in the courts has been how to view the evidentiary value of pictures and comments posted on social media.
The ruling can definitely be guiding and affect cases where we see the same pattern, says Kenneth Sandgren, who leads the social services team against benefit fraud, to Sydsvenskan.
The Malmö resident must now pay back the entire amount of 123,926 kronor. If he does not, Malmö City can take the case further to debt collection and the Enforcement Authority.
